Psychiatrists/Therapists of the OT

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I know this isn’t the best place for advice but I just figured it was worth a shot.

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It’s exactly where you should have posted this.

My rate is $30/hr. I’ll turn your life around.

serious answer:

talk to someone, it'll be so fricking cathartic, you'll kick yourself for not doing it sooner.


Also medication wise: get on an SSRI, something that works over time, and not acutely. I reccoment Lexapro. changed my life in college.

Hang in there, man.

therapist, B1 or the B1 precursor, and stoicism.

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I’ve suffered anxiety my entire life and I’m almost positive I have some form of depression.

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you're bent to shite, but not broken

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I was just wondering if there’s any Psychiatrists or Therapists on the board who could give me advice on what the best form of treatment would be

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as a licensed internet therapist, my best advice is goal setting and forward action. always be moving forward. sideways goes nowhere and backwards is worse. make goals big and small. get the small ones done, and you will see that you are a lot closer to the big goals.

life does not have to be considered hard, but most of it is hard work. if you think you suck, then you probably do. there is no try or try not. there is only do.

Maybe find a good therapist and talk it out once a week or so. Sometimes that helps. Medications can help but, yes can leave you sort of foggy as you mentioned. People will tell you diet and exercise and positive thinking, but that doesn’t work for everyone.

1. medicine
2. exercise

Combo of those two is absolute best thing. Make an appointment with a doc now. You don't have to feel like this and it can be changed.

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I’ve tried medicines in the past but they always just made me feel really weird and out of whack.

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90% of patients feel great by the 2nd or 3rd medication they try.

The fact that you have had multiple failed medication trials suggests that you have a comorbid diagnosis (anxiety plus something else) or you have metabolic/genetic differences in the way you respond to meds.

If you retry meds, don’t mess around with a primary care MD. Only see a VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED psychiatrist who knows what they are doing with meds.

You don’t need some yahoo saying “you never tried Zoloft? Let’s try that.” You need someone to examine your symptoms and your medication response history and go from there.

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Get a good therapist who focuses on Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy. If you're suffering from clinical depression the meds will help stabilize your brain chemicals, if you're suffering from situational depression, you will need talk therapy in addition to the meds (if you choose the meds short term.)

Talk therapy is going to help with everything, the meds can help get you stabilize, but sometimes you have to try several different meds and doses to get what is right for you.

The CBT will help you recognize and associate behaviors that will help you in middle of any depressive or anxious situation.

If you have an EAP, call them about getting in to see a therapist, try to find one that works with your insurance so you don't have to switch when the EAP sessions end.

If you have insurance, call and get an appointment with a therapist and a psychiatrist as soon as you can.

If you need meds, get them from a psychiatrist, not your PCP. Have the psychiatrist manage your meds.

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This is all exactly right.

What I would add in terms of things you can do on your own while you find a therapist and psychiatrist:

Exercise. It doesn’t matter what. Get up and get moving. The physiological changes hat come with exercise help with mood regulation.

Volunteer somewhere. It helps you get out of your own head and forces you to do something for someone else. It also typically forces you to interact with other people outside of your work setting which can also be helpful.

This one should really be first- go get a checkup from your PCP. Tell him or her what you have been experiencing and that you are seeking assistance from a therapist and psychiatrist but that you wanted to make sure there isn’t a physical illness causing your symptoms. In your case, with the history youbdescribe I would doubt that a medical condition is the cause of your symptoms. But it could be.

Depression and anxiety are closely related illnesses. Sort of two sides of the same coin. Many people experience both of them together. The good news is that since they are biochemically related they also respond to the same treatment in many cases. One thing to keep in mind. Any medication you take isn’t going to turn your mood from depressed to happy. It is more like having a weight lifted off you so that you can engage in normal activities and let you move forward.

I am also a Masters level behavioral health professional with almost 25 years experience.

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Get a good therapist who focuses on Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy. If you're suffering from clinical depression the meds will help stabilize your brain chemicals, if you're suffering from situational depression, you will need talk therapy in addition to the meds (if you choose the meds short term.)

Talk therapy is going to help with everything, the meds can help get you stabilize, but sometimes you have to try several different meds and doses to get what is right for you.

The CBT will help you recognize and associate behaviors that will help you in middle of any depressive or anxious situation.

If you have an EAP, call them about getting in to see a therapist, try to find one that works with your insurance so you don't have to switch when the EAP sessions end.

If you have insurance, call and get an appointment with a therapist and a psychiatrist as soon as you can.

If you need meds, get them from a psychiatrist, not your PCP. Have the psychiatrist manage your meds.

Good luck.

<---master's level therapist.

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Thanks so much.